Annandale students ready for school, thanks to huge Resource Fair
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| Annandale Terrace Principal Andrea Garris (left) and her staff meet a student. |
It’s still summer break, but Annandale High School was
filled with children Aug. 13 for the second annual Back-to-School Annandale Pyramid Resource Fair. According to organizers, at least 4,000 people came.
filled with children Aug. 13 for the second annual Back-to-School Annandale Pyramid Resource Fair. According to organizers, at least 4,000 people came.
There were free school supplies from Kits for Kidz, clothing
from the B-thrifty Boutique, haircuts from Hair Cuttery, books, vaccinations,
and vision and hearing screenings for children. Parents had a chance to learn
about all sorts of resources from Fairfax County Public Schools, county
agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
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| Parents select free back-to-school outfits for their children. |
It all took place in a lively setting with musical
performance by Annandale High School students, a DJ, face painting, balloons,
and popcorn.
performance by Annandale High School students, a DJ, face painting, balloons,
and popcorn.
All students and their parents in the Annandale High School
pyramid (which includes eight elementary and two middle schools) were invited,
and people started lining up well before the doors opened at 2 p.m.
pyramid (which includes eight elementary and two middle schools) were invited,
and people started lining up well before the doors opened at 2 p.m.
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| Children spin a wheel and win prizes for answering questions about health and nutrition at a booth from Inova Partnership for Healthy Kids. |
The event, organized by Fairfax County Public Schools and the Annandale High School pyramid with support from the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and lots of help from volunteers and a long list of
sponsors, was aimed at making sure students are ready for the start of the
school year.
sponsors, was aimed at making sure students are ready for the start of the
school year.
When did Annandale become so poor that a charity event was necessary to get kids ready for school? (Where most will be fed "free" lunches?)
It certainly wasn't like this through at least the early 1980s. We were one of the poorer families in Annandale when I was growing up, but nothing like this was going on.
Average income around Annandale HS is $57k http://www.census.gov/censusexplorer/censusexplorer.html
52% of the kids are on free/reduced lunch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annandale_High_School
Annandale is Fairfax County's collection area for low income and illegals (people with no documents). The county bought Wedgewood years ago and it is all low income. Nothing wrong with helping low income folks but having them all in one spot does not help with property values. There are probably more issues but I doubt anything will change until Annandale changes in terms of jobs or has something of a destination rather than being a pass thru town. Years of the same political infrastructure probably has not helped either (yes PG, I said it).
I am sure I will hear it from the peanut gallery.
Happy to help low-income kids become better educated & contributing members of our society & economy. One of my son's coaches at Annandale H.S. and his wonderful son lived in Wedgewood. But yes, having low-income housing spread out more would be more beneficial. I think D.C. found out that creating slums or ghettos of low-income folks just breeds crime and failure.